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To ask Her Majesty’s Government how the Secretary of State for Health has discharged
his duty to report on the treatment of National Health Service health care providers
as specified in section 8 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012.

<p>The Secretary of State commissioned Monitor to lead a Fair Playing Field Review
into the equal treatment of providers of National Health Service services. The Review
published its final Report in March 2013. Since publication, Monitor has established
a high level implementation group, of which the Department is a member, to take forward
the Review’s recommendations.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p>As part
of its annual assurance processes the Department seeks confirmation from all its Directors
General that they and our Arm’s Length Bodies have taken the duty into consideration,
as outlined in Section 8 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012.</p><p> </p>

<p>The Government expects National Health Service leaders, clinicians and experts
to develop the long-term plan to ensure that the NHS can cope with the serious demand
and cost pressures it faces in the future. It will be published later this year.</p>

<p>National Health Service trust boards and all other NHS boards are required to hold
their meetings in public. The Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 sets
out the requirement for most NHS bodies to have their meetings in public. NHS foundation
trusts and clinical commissioning groups are governed by the NHS Act 2006 (as amended
by the Health &amp; Social Care Act 2012), which sets out similar requirements for
these bodies.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The public body may exclude the public
from a meeting where publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest by reason
of the confidential nature of the business of the body or for other special reasons
as decided by board resolution.</p><p> </p>

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the (a) process and (b) timelines followed
by the NHS to determine a specialised clinical commissioning policy are; and what
the roles and responsibilities are of the NHS committees involved.

<p>Clinical policies are developed by the appropriate service specific clinical reference
group and reviewed by the Clinical Prioritisation Advisory Group (CPAG). CPAG then
makes a recommendation whether to commission the service or treatment in question.
CPAG recommendations are ratified by the Specialised Commissioning Oversight Group
(SCOG).</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The length of time to produce a clinical commissioning
policy is variable depending on the complexity of the subject area. The timeline is
typically between 6-9 months but can be shorter.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>SCOG
has operational oversight of specialised commissioning and has delegated authority
to make decisions on the recommendations made by CPAG, which provides advice to NHS
England about any decision-making that defines access to clinical services. The Directly
Commissioned Services Committee, a sub-committee of the NHS England Board, oversees
the delivery of directly commissioned services within the overall strategy set by
NHS England. The SCOG reports to this committee.</p><p> </p>

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his oral contribution of 23
October 2014, Official Report, columns 1044-5, on Five Year Forward View, if he will
ensure that any Multispeciality Community Providers are NHS providers; and if he will
make a statement.

<p>It is envisaged that the vast majority of future provision of National Health Service
services will be by NHS bodies, including Multispecialty Community Providers. Further
details about how NHS England intend to support areas wishing to develop these providers
will be announced in due course.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p>

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his oral
contribution of 27 November 2018 to the Health and Social Care Committee, Question
127, what the positive impacts are for the NHS of the Withdrawal Agreement.

<p>The Government has agreed the terms of our exit from the European Union, as set
out in the Withdrawal Agreement. The Withdrawal Agreement allows us to deliver on
the result of the referendum, and means that we will leave the EU in a smooth and
orderly way on 29 March 2019.</p><p> </p><p>On 18 June, the Prime Minister set out
that the National Health Service in England will receive an increase in funding over
the next five years that equates to over £20 billion additional real terms funding
a year by 2023-24.</p><p> </p><p>The Withdrawal Agreement and the Political Declaration
lay the foundation for a strong NHS.</p>

<p>My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care regularly
engages with stakeholders, agencies, arms-length bodies, and other Government Departments
about European Union exit preparations.</p><p> </p><p>On 23 August 2018, the Secretary
of State for Health and Social Care wrote to all National Health Service organisations,
general practitioners, community pharmacies and other service providers.</p><p> </p><p>The
letter set out what the health and care system needs to consider in the period leading
up to March 2019, including:</p><p>- the continued supply of medical products in the
event of no deal; and</p><p>- business continuity plans.</p><p> </p><p>The Secretary
of State for Health and Social Care also wrote to health and care providers on 7 December
2018 to update them on the Government's preparations for a potential no-deal Brexit.
The letter provides an update on what the health and care system needs to consider
in the period leading up to March 2019. It includes plans relating to the continued
supply of:</p><p>- medicines and vaccines;</p><p>- medical devices and clinical consumables;</p><p>-
blood and other products of human origin; and</p><p>- non-clinical consumables, goods
and services.</p><p> </p><p>The letter also contains information on the health and
care workforce, research and clinical trials, and business continuity plans.</p>

<p>On 18 December 2018, the Cabinet agreed to proceed with the Government’s next phase
of ‘no deal’ planning. With just over three months until our exit from the European
Union, we have now reached the point where we need to accelerate and intensify these
preparations. It has always been the case that as we get nearer to March 2019, preparations
for a no deal scenario would have to be accelerated. Preparing for ‘no deal’ is now
an operational priority for the Government. This means we will set in motion our remaining
‘no deal’ plans.</p><p> </p><p>My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health
and Social Care wrote to frontline health and care organisations on 7 December 2018
to update them on the Government’s preparations for a potential ‘no deal’ Brexit and
what the health and care system needs to consider in the period leading up to March
2019.</p><p> </p><p>On 21 December 2018, the Department published ‘EU Exit operational
readiness guidance’, developed and agreed with NHS England and NHS Improvement. This
guidance lists the actions that providers and commissioners of health and care services
in England should take if the United Kingdom leaves the EU without a ratified deal
– a ‘no deal’ exit. This will ensure organisations are prepared for, and can manage,
the risks in such a scenario. This guidance was sent to all frontline health and care
organisations to ensure the health and care system as a whole is prepared.</p>

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of
13 December 2018 to Question 200657, how specifically the EU Withdrawal Agreement
and the Political Declaration lay the foundation for a strong NHS.

<p>The Government has agreed the terms of our exit from the European Union, as set
out in the Withdrawal Agreement. The Withdrawal Agreement allows us to deliver on
the result of the referendum, and means that we will leave the EU in a smooth and
orderly way on 29 March 2019.</p><p> </p><p>Securing a deal is in the best interests
of patients, the National Health Service, and businesses.</p><p> </p><p>The deal we
have agreed would allow us to focus on significant domestic priorities, such as our
long-term plan for the NHS.</p>